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Oh, umm... Thank you.

[And so she sits, licking a little at her ice cream now that she doesn't need to worry about dropping it or, in the worst case, tripping. However, she does stop to explain.]

...It's not that I mind working. I like helping when I can.

It's just that... a lot of my friends started going home, so... I wanted to be able to spend more time with them.

[He sits next to her, but squatting. Yes, on the bench. He may be part monkey, ok.

Jack knows what is like to see people "leave" , but he can't really connect to spending more time with them. He'll still nod, because he does get the idea.]

That's a great idea. Have fun together, make lots of memories with them. Those stay with you after they leave.

Mm. And more of my friends left after that, so... I'm a little glad I did.

[And another small nibble at the ice cream.]

People leave often then?

[As soon as he says that, he regrets it. This is supposed to be about her, not to satisfy his curiosity.]

Nevermind. What is important it's that you spend more time having fun. I'm sure the healers can take turns in the hospital, so don't feel bad about it.

[She slowly nods.]

As long as we aren't in wartime, it's usually okay if I take more days off. Even some of the nurses told me so.

[Though when it came to actual times of danger, nurses or not, of course she would throw herself right back into healing again.]

There you go. Gotta think about your own peace of mind too, you know?

[Don't worry Jack, Hibiki. He's the only one who allowed to do stupid stuff around here.]

Are you friends with the other kids from the city?

Mm-hmm, a few of them.

They can keep you company and play with you during those off days. You have me too, you know. For games, or... [He steals some of the ice-cream with a finger and speaks before sucking it.] -just as a snack provider too.

[She blinks a few times in surprise when he steals some of her ice cream, but at the same time she doesn't seem to mind.]

They have jobs and things to deal with too, but... Sometimes we spend time together when we're free.

[Get used to his weirdness, Hibiki. He enters Big Brother mode when he's with children, but if he gets more or less comfortable the usual idiot will slip every now and then.]

Everyone needs a break. Since you like playing nurse so much, think of it as giving them fun therapy. [He pokes her head gently. If you think he sounds like an old man, well, you'd be right.] Some cure to keep the mind healthy.

[Well, it isn't as though she hasn't had chunks of her food stolen before... Although that was by someone even younger than herself. But she reacts more or less the same, obligingly going along with it. At least Jack won't get a scolding on accounts of being older than her!]

Th-therapy? [She hears that word sometimes, but she's never exactly sure what the actual definition is.]

[Being older than Jack isn't an easy thing to do, so it seems they'll be fine. But huh, that question. How to even explain.]

Yeah, it's like... a treatment? But for your mind. A doctor that studied how people think and feel and all that stuff sits down with you and listen to you, guides you... that sort of thing.

[...That sounds really tough!]

I-I don't think I could do something complicated like that!

[Hibiki you're taking this a little too seriously here.]

[Jack laughs at the fact she took him literally.]

I'm not telling you to do that. I'm telling you that playing and taking a break is a good medicine for the mind, do you understand?

...Oh!

[Okay, that makes a little more sense.]

So... even though we don't have someone treating us, playing is good because it makes you feel better?

[She always thought that playing was a sort of frivolous thing that only children did. Maybe it's good after all?]

Exactly! It makes you feel better here. [He pokes her chest, above the heart area.] You got it. You're a smart girl, Hibiki. [Here, let him ruffle her hair again. He's liking it.]

N-not really...

[He had to explain that one to her before she got it, after all. But hair ruffles are always welcome!]

I just thought that playing was what kids do. [Herself included, here.] I didn't know it did any good.

Sadly, that's how it is. Adults are so grown-up they forget to save time to play. But we know better, see? Playing is good for you.

[Jack is teaching her ALL THE RIGHT LESSONS.]

Eh... they forget? Is that just part of being an adult, or...?

[SHE'S LEARNING SO MUCH TODAY WHOAAA.]

Yeeeah, pretty much. But it doesn't have to be, you know. You just need to remember to keep being cute as you are and just have fun. Got it?

[HE HAS FAITH IN YOU GIRL]

[Blinkblinkblink]

Cute?

[Where did that come from?]

But... Um, I'll try my best! [At having fun, yes.]

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